Skrowaczewski's dull and sluggish performances of Brahms's Second Symphony and the Tragic Overture gave me little pleasure when I reviewed them last September ( PCD857), but this new disc, made at later sessions, is a very different matter. The symphony's first movement introduction, as I expected from the earlier disc, is deliberate and weighty, though quite impressively so, but I didn't for a moment anticipate such a dramatic and deeply felt account of the main allegro. Here the basic tempo is pretty swift, and there is some exciting playing from the Halle, with pungent, biting rhythms and plenty of spirited attack, particularly from the brass section, while in more reflective passages Skrowaczewski moulds the phrases with affection and warmth.
In the second movement there is a beautifully caught balance of passion, grandeur and elegance. Here Skrowaczewski keeps the music moving onwards, but persuades the orchestra to some, gloriously expansive phrasing, with the strings seeming to use every inch of their bows—''ten foot long'', as Elgar used to ask of his players. The third movement flows easily along, with cross-rhythms neatly pointed and a fresh, spontaneous feel to the playing. In the introduction to the last movement Skrowaczewski inspires playing of some tension; and then, after a sturdy delivery of the big Allegro non troppo theme the movement procedes spiritedly to a vigorous climax.
Skrowaczewski's account of the Academic Festival Overture has plenty of impetus and buoyancy to complete a disc which, given an excellent, welland spacious recording makes a highly attractive proposition at bargain price, especially when none of the conductors listed above offers anything other than the symphony on their full-price CDs. The Pickwick disc is clearly superior to Karajan's new version of the symphony on DG in every way, except in the quality of orchestral playing. Both Wand on EMI and Dohnanyi on Teldec offer stiffer competition: Dohnanyi's strong, objective account is highly satisfying, as is Wand's more old-fashioned romantic performance. Choice is still between Wand and Dohnanyi, I feel, but Skrowaczewski offers an ideal bargain alternative.'